In Partnership - June 2020

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Coventry Send

In Partnership - June 2020

From the manager's office

I hope that this bulletin finds you and your family well, as we continue in these uncertain times.

As guidance changes in response to COVID-19, there still appears to be confusion on the back of every announcement that is made, so don't worry if you're as confused as I am. Going/not going back to school; should/shouldn't already be in school; schools open/closed over the summer holidays; free school meals continuing/not continuing; 1m/2m distance away; one person in the house/six people in an outdoor space etc. 

And that's before we even get into trying to help with maths homework!

There's some helpful links in this edition of the bulletin around support and guidance. However, if you have any fun stories or exciting achievements that have happened during lockdown, then please let us know - we'd love to highlight something super that chlidren and young people have been doing and are especially proud of. Just send anything to sendnews@coventry.gov.uk

Hoping that by the next time we talk, things are a little bit brighter still.

Chris Firth, Manager SENDIASS

Local updates

Coventry City Council and COVID-19

Please remember If you are trying to find out what might be happening to various Council services during this crisis, including information on schools, please visit their website.

It also includes information about what to do if you are:

  • feeling ill
  • having difficulty getting food supplies
  • looking for ideas to stay happy at home
  • trying to stay connected to your local community
Cov MHS

Coventry Mental Health Service has produced an information booklet for all providers and members of the public during the COVID-19 outbreak. The booklet is available to download and share.

SEND support services

SEND Coventry

Coventry's SEND support services are still offering support to educational settings during the current situation, albeit in slightly different ways. They have recently launched the recovery curriculum, a local, co-produced repository of information and resources to support the mental health of children and young people during the phased reopening of educational settings. This is primarily aimed at nursery and school staff, although there is also advice for young people and families.  

They are also compiling resources for families to use with children whilst they are at home. 

Additionally the Coventry Educational Psychology service are offering 30 minutes direct telephone support. 

EP Services

C&YP mental health commissioning

Mental Health

Coventry's Joint Commissioning team are looking at recommissioning for Tier 2 services around mental health services for children and young people. 

As part of this they have created a survey for children and young people to complete to give their views.

The survey relates to exploring the experiences of children and young people who have accessed the following services:

  • Primary Mental Health Team,
  • CAMHS LAC or
  • REACH (CW Mind) but also extends out to any low-moderate services which relate to their mental health and which they may not know the name of.

The survey closes at the end of June, but there may be further opportunities for involvement in the future.

Consultation on the proposed relocation and expansion of Woodfield Primary and Secondary schools

Coventry City Council are starting a consultation process about the future plans for Woodfield school.

Please have a look at the detailed consultation proposals before letting the Local Authority know what you think of the proposal in the survey below.

This consultation runs from 10 June to 22 July, which is the deadline for responses. You can respond via the survey , or by email education.consultations@coventry.gov.uk or via letter to Education Entitlement, Coventry City Council, PO Box 15, Council House, Coventry, CV1 5RR.

Should you require any further information, please send an email to education.consultations@coventry.gov.uk.

The COV-ED Study (University of Warwick)

COV ED

This online survey is being coordinated by the University of Warwick and is exploring the experience of parents/carers and teachers who are supporting young people in secondary school aged 11-15 with learning and teaching from home during COVID-19 lockdown in England.

This includes a focus on the impact this may be having on their mental health and wellbeing.

The survey takes about 15 mins to complete and closes at the end of July.

If you require further information, please contact The COV-ED Study team at COV-EDsurvey@warwick.ac.uk.  

Autism WM Newsletter May 2020

National information

Government guidance COVID-19

Gov.uk

Parents and carers can find out the latest national guidance provided by the DfE around education and childcare.

 

Wellchild logo

WellChild

WellChild is the national UK children's charity making it possible for children and young people with exceptional health needs to be cared for at home instead of hospital, wherever possible.

Face coverings guidance for public transport

Mask exemption

With the Government's new law around wearing face masks on public transport from 15 June, they also included exemptions for some individuals.These are where:

  • you have a disability that means you cannot put a mask on
  • you have a disability that means you cannot wear or remove a mask
  • putting on a face mask would cause you severe distress
  • if you use lip reading to communicate, the person supporting you to use public transport does not have to wear a mask
  • you do not have to wear a mask if you are using public transport to escape danger

 

More information about this, including printable cards to carry for use on transport and other useful resources.

Useful links COVID-19

Links to information you might find useful when homeschooling due to COVID-19 pandemic

The Department for Education has brought together an initial list of online education resources to help children to learn at home.  

Coronavirus (COVID 19): list of online education resources for home education

There are specific resources for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) resources developed with a focus on accessibility.

Other useful sites are:

  • BBC Bitesize - Help with free videos, step-by-step guides, activities and quizzes by level and subject
  • Chatterbooks - Free resources and to sign up to the Chatterbooks network (suitable for children from 4 up to 12) 
  • CBeebies Something Special - Lots of help and resources for children with additional needs

Finance

Below we have selected a few useful websites we think may be of interest:

Coventry Independent Advice Service is a charity offering free advice, information and support to Coventry residents.

  • Our service is confidential and our skilled advisers can help you with things like:

    • identifying entitlement to benefits and helping you make claims
    • helping you to sort out debt or other money problems
    • challenging decisions on benefit claims 

Safeguarding

Home is supposed to be the safest place for us all right now, but if you are experiencing domestic abuse then the advice to stay at home could be frightening. If someone is in immediate danger and their life is threatened, they should dial the Police on 999. 

Coventry Haven -  ensure safety and empowerment for women and children who are subjected to Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA) in any form. They offer a range of services including a SafeToTalk Helpline 0800 111 4998 or 024 7644 4077 (Monday to Friday 9am-4.30pm)

National Domestic Abuse Line (REFUGE) - Refuge supports women, children and men experiencing domestic violence with a range of services including a 24-hour helpline 0808 2000 247. 

Wellbeing

Young Minds - a national charity which supports children and young people with mental health and well being. They have specific resources for young people around COVID-19, and also offer support to parents.

Childline - Childline is available to help anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through. You can talk about anything. Whether it’s something big or small, they have trained counsellors to support you. The helpline is 0800 1111 and is available between 9am to midnight every day.

Samaritans - Coventry & District Samaritans is an independent charity, run entirely by unpaid volunteers. They provide a free 24-hour helpline for people who are upset, troubled or who are feeling suicidal.add links and description. Call 116 123 at any time of the day or night or email jo@samaritans.org

In addition to their normal services Samaritans has set up a confidential support line for NHS workers and volunteers in England. This operates from 7am to 11pm every day. NHS staff can, of course, still use the 24 hour helpline if they prefer.

Other resources

CDC logo

The Council for Disabled Children has been asked to regularly update government advice on how to stay healthy and safe during this time. 

They have gathered a list of resources and guidance about Coronavirus to share with parent carers, children and young people and educationhealth and social care practitioners. This page will be kept under review and new resources added to the categories as they become available.

They have also contributed to a Disabled Children's Partnership report, "Left in Lockdown", which is based on survey responses by parents and carers of disabled children and young people. Recommendations of the report include: the need of a plan for re-establishing and expanding care support such as short breaks; and for the Care review to include a focus on social care support for disabled children - to support the SEND review and to address the wider changes needed.

Contact for families

Contact for families with disabled children are a charity for families with disabled children. They support families with the best possible guidance and information and bring families together to support each other. 

With so much out there about COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and confusion about the virus and it's impact on families with disabled children they offer you somewhere to go where all the most important information you need is in one place.

They will keep adding to their website pages as and when the situation changes, so please keep checking back with the contact for families with disabled children website for  additional information and resources that could be useful to you and your family.

Coventry City Council

The Family Hubs can help you find and get help from different services in the area and will be able to give you information, advice and support.

If you need additional support during COVID-19 please contact your nearest Hub directly to find out if there is anything they can do to help. To find out which is your nearest use the link above.

Making information accessible - LA website

browsealoud

Do you know about Browsealoud? 

Browsealoud enables hundreds of web pages (and downloadable documents held within them) on the Coventry City Council website to be more accessible for all in a range of different ways.

These include; translating into over 100 languages; speakaloud (which enables you to listen to pages/documents in either English or a range of languages); a range of viewing options; you can even make an MP3 to listen to! 

More information.

Parent/carer groups

Are you involved with a parents group? If so, why not tell us about it so more parents can join in? 

Fancy a chat?

SENDIASS Coffee Mornings

SEND IASS's popular coffee morning has been moved online during the lockdown. 

It's an opportunity for parents to come together and have a chat about anything and everything! It's supported by staff from SEND IASS (and the Carer's Trust).

Places are limited so everyone can have a chance to talk, so if you want to come along, just let us know (024 7669 4307 or email iass@coventry.gov.uk)

Next dates are:

Thursday 2 July 10am - 11am

Friday 17 July 10am - 11am.

Depending on demand, we may also offer some additional slots.

"The Fine Art to Wellbeing" course

Art

Looking to find an activity to help support your mental well-being? 

We think about creativity as making something new and original, but in fact the root meaning of creativity means ‘to grow’. 

Arty-Folks is now running "The Fine Art to Wellbeing", a free three week course monthly online using the Zoom platform aimed at adults.

Enrol now.

The course is suitable for total beginners as well as experienced artists and there are chances to join courses from July to September.

More information.

Parent Carer forum

1voice

Coventry's One Voice Parent Group is part of the National Network of Parent Carer Forums and helps support the views of parents/carers on issues involving SEND.

To register an interest, please contact onevoicegroup@btinternet.com or call/text 07874 242733.

Coventry's SEND Local Offer

Local Offer

The Coventry Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Local Offer brings together information for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their families. 

The SEND Local Offer will cover services available to the public across education, health and social care:

Education: such as nurseries, playgroups, schools and colleges as well as support services like Educational Psychology and SEN services.

Health: children's and adult services including GPs, therapists and hospital services

Social care: such as short break services and children's and adult disability services.

Contact us

If you have any comments or wish to contribute something to the next bulletin, please let us know by contacting us sendnews@coventry.gov.uk

Alternatively, you can keep up to date through SEND IASS's:

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